NCAA Basketball Predictions, Odds & Best Bets: Friday Night Hoops (2/7)

Friday isn’t the best day for College Hoops, and to be honest with you, I’m not sure I’ll have any best bets tonight. However, we still dove into each game on the slate, and I have gathered my thoughts and leans for the smaller board tonight.

For all of our Expert NCAA Basketball Picks, check out our page here. But for now, let’s get right into it!

Listed below are my College Hoops best bets for today, but be sure to get all of my picks on my Twitter (@Shaggy_Bets)

NCAA Basketball Best Bets – February 7th, 2025

VCU vs Dayton Predictions

Heavy Lean: VCU/Dayton Under 138.5 BetOnline

I think defense will run this game tonight as two very good A-10 teams go head to head. The Rams have won 8 of their L9, sit at 8-2 in conference play but they have been shaky on the road against top competition. Both of these teams play very slow, as VCU is north of 200 in pace and Dayton is 299th, so I think points will be at a premium tonight.

VCU’s defense is much better than their offense, ranking Top 12 in eFG%, Top 20 in TO Rate and 34th overall. They crash the offensive glass, but that’s about it, and knowing they have Dayton on the other side, it would benefit the Rams to slow things down. Dayton has the better offense, but I see them playing their own slow paced game tonight, leaning on their efficiency to win this matchup.

No play for me, but I REALLY think this game stays under, and the market seems to be ticking down as well.

USC vs #7 Purdue Predictions

Best Bets: USC/Purdue Over 146 (+105) BetOnline

Courtesy of my man, SPJ, we are backing points in West Lafayette tonight. While these teams typically play slow, Purdue has put up. 80+ in three straight and they shoot the three ball well and often. The Boilermaker’s main three, Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer Trey Kaufman-Renn all average 30+ minutes per game, they combined for 49 points from the field, nearly all of the team’s assists, and all shoot over 40% from beyond the arc.

The Trojans have been a machine recently, and have played well on the road. Tonight it will take one of their best offensive games to keep up with their hosts, especially considering Purdue will spend plenty of time at the charity stripe. Musselman coached teams don’t have a problem playing fast, and will likely try to speed things up to counter act the Boilermaker’s offensive efficiency. I see USC competing in a close game that turns into a shootout with both team’s shooters going back and forth.

#12 St. John’s vs #19 UConn Predictions

Best Bets: UConn ML (-168) BetOnline

Do Not Be Afraid, Pay the Juiceman.

To be completely honest, I think UConn wins by 20, but I have will lay some juice and just take the outright win at home.

St. John’s is the hottest team in College Hoops. They’ve won 9 straight, they’ve won 15 of their L16, they have’t lost a game in 2025. But playing in Storrs is a different story, although UConn has been having a down year, they are still coached by the man, Dan Hurley, and Liam McNeeley is back in the lineup which immediately boosts both sides of the ball.

The Huskies have been sitting around since beating Marquette on Saturday waiting for this matchup. At 8-3 in Big East play, they can’t afford to drop a game at home. The Red Storm took down Marquette at home on Tuesday, but on the road tonight, I think the big bad Huskies show they are still a force to be reckoned with in this conference.

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